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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Terror detention announcement due | Terror detention announcement due |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is due to announce the government's revised plans to extend the period that terrorism suspects can be held without charge. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown had said a "growing weight of opinion" backed extending limits in certain situations. | |
| Ministers have struggled to find support for increasing the detention period beyond the current 28 days. | Ministers have struggled to find support for increasing the detention period beyond the current 28 days. |
| It is thought a compromise will be suggested, with MPs' approval sought if someone was to be held for longer. | It is thought a compromise will be suggested, with MPs' approval sought if someone was to be held for longer. |
| A 42-day limit has apparently been discussed. Previously ministers had proposed extensions to 56 or 58 days. | A 42-day limit has apparently been discussed. Previously ministers had proposed extensions to 56 or 58 days. |
| But civil liberties groups have accused ministers of abandoning consensus and playing politics with terror laws. | But civil liberties groups have accused ministers of abandoning consensus and playing politics with terror laws. |
| Doubts raised | Doubts raised |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that apart from senior police officers, opinion had largely been opposed to extending the limit. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said that apart from senior police officers, opinion had largely been opposed to extending the limit. |
| The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, the former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, and for a short while the Security Minister Lord West, all expressed doubts that longer detention was needed. | The Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, the former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, and for a short while the Security Minister Lord West, all expressed doubts that longer detention was needed. |
| The Home Affairs Committee, which meets to consider the issue later, is also believed to be unconvinced. | The Home Affairs Committee, which meets to consider the issue later, is also believed to be unconvinced. |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "We believe there is a case for going beyond 28 days in the future. | A Home Office spokesman said: "We believe there is a case for going beyond 28 days in the future. |
| "We have consulted widely on how this might work in exceptional circumstances." | "We have consulted widely on how this might work in exceptional circumstances." |
| Terror 'arms race' | Terror 'arms race' |
| Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil liberties campaign group Liberty, accused the government of abandoning attempts to build a consensus on the issue. | Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil liberties campaign group Liberty, accused the government of abandoning attempts to build a consensus on the issue. |
| "It seems more like politics than policy-making to me. I think it is a real mistake as I've never seen such good will in the House of Commons," she said. | "It seems more like politics than policy-making to me. I think it is a real mistake as I've never seen such good will in the House of Commons," she said. |
| "I believed there was a unique opportunity to end the arms race on terror laws, to actually achieve something that would last beyond just one government." | "I believed there was a unique opportunity to end the arms race on terror laws, to actually achieve something that would last beyond just one government." |
| Liberty and the Conservatives have argued that current powers to call a national emergency are sufficient when faced with a case that requires going beyond 28 days. | Liberty and the Conservatives have argued that current powers to call a national emergency are sufficient when faced with a case that requires going beyond 28 days. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said every piece of evidence had been against extending the limit. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said every piece of evidence had been against extending the limit. |
| "Not only is it a breach of fundamental liberties enjoyed for centuries by the British people, it is likely to prove counter-productive in the fight against terrorism," he said. | "Not only is it a breach of fundamental liberties enjoyed for centuries by the British people, it is likely to prove counter-productive in the fight against terrorism," he said. |
| Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Clegg added: "Unless some real evidence is produced, the suspicion will only grow that this is being pushed forward for political reasons, not because of a demonstrable need in law." | Liberal Democrat spokesman Nick Clegg added: "Unless some real evidence is produced, the suspicion will only grow that this is being pushed forward for political reasons, not because of a demonstrable need in law." |